Legionella longbeachae

Legionella longbeachae is one species of the family Legionellaceae. It is found predominantly in soil and potting compost. Human infection from L. longbeachae is particularly common in Western Australia,^[1],[2] yet cases have been documented in other countries including the USA.^[3]

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Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Like other Legionella species, person-to-person transmission has not been documented. However, unlike other species the primary transmission mode is inhalation of dust from contaminated compost or soil that contains the organism causing legionellosis.^[4]

Compost

Compost must be handled with care, damp down with water to reduce dust before handling, use a face mask covering nose and mouth to reduce the risk of inhaling the dust, especially for those at high risk from infection.

It is noteworthy that compost packaging in Australia has a L. longbeachae warning label.

References

1. ^ Alli OA, Zink S, von Lackum NK, Abu-Kwaik Y (2003). "Comparative assessment of virulence traits in Legionella spp". Microbiology 149 (Pt 3): 631-41. PubMed.
2. ^ Grove DI, Lawson PJ, Burgess JS, Moran JL, O'Fathartaigh MS, Winslow WE (2002). "An outbreak of Legionella longbeachae infection in an intensive care unit?". J Hosp Infect 52 (4): 250-8. PubMed.
3. ^ (2000) "Legionnaires' Disease associated with potting soil--California, Oregon, and Washington, May-June 2000". MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 49 (34): 777-8. PubMed fulltext.
4. ^ Steele TW, Lanser J, Sangster N (1990). "Isolation of Legionella longbeachae serogroup 1 from potting mixes". Appl Environ Microbiol 56 (1): 49-53. PubMed.